clarke



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. L. CLARKE.

TELEMETRY.

P aJtented Oct. 6, 1885.

I 6/2 Z L.C 9513 M Wile/i36 ar 83 lama? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. L. CLARKE.

TELEMETRY.

iJNiTnn STATES CHARLES L. CLARKE,

PATENT OFFICE,

OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

TELEMETRY.

LJECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,527, dated October 6,1885.

Application tiled March 30, 1885.

To all whom it 77mg concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. CLARKE, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telemetry, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to certain improvements in the organization of electrical apparatus, and in the arrangement of circuits for indicating at distant points variations in temperature, atmospheric, steam, or other pressure, or other similar changing force occurring at any particular locality, or the movements of any regularlyoperated device-such as a clock, tide or water gage or float.

The object of the invention is to cause such indications to be made automatically and siin ultaneousl y with the occurrence of an y change of any appreciable amount at any required number of different points, to so organize the apparatus as to most economically apply the electrical energy employ ed, to prevent the more delicate parts of the instrument from becoming injured by constant use, to insure that all the instruments shall operate reliably, and to indicate any failure on the part of the instruments to properly operate.

The invention consists, generally, in organizing the apparatus in substantially the following manner: The governing-instrument, which is one organized to respond to any varying force, or to be operated at regular intervals, or to move constantly under the infiuence of a constant force, is provided with a circuit-closing device constructed to transmit electrical impulses of a character and with a frequency dependent upon the direction and amplitude of the movements of the controllinginstrumcnt. The various parts of the apparatus are so constructed thatim mediately upon the completion of a circuit in the transmitter or by the primal circuit-closing device,a shuntcircuit will be automatically completed around this device. This shunt-circuit remains closed until ascparation of the primal contact-points has been eiiected. The shunt-circuit is c0mpleted through a strong and firm contactpoint, thereby insuring more perfect circuit-connections than can be readily obtained by the pri- Scrial No. lG0,G05. (No model.)

mal contact when it is operated by delicately adjusted devices. Thisalso prevents the circuit from being accidentally interrupted before the electro-maguets, which it is designed. to operate, have been vitalizcd, and it at the same time prevents electrical discharges from occurring at the delicate contact-points.

The receiving instruments are provided with devices for advancing an indicating arm or device correlatively with the movements of the transmitting device or governing-in strnment, and these devices are caused to be operated whenever a circuitis completed.

\Vhen the receiving devices have been operated, it is necessary that the circuit should be again interrupted, and this has usually been accomplished by means of an interrupting device actuated by an electro-magnet inserted in series with the other clcctro-magnets, but constructed to respond more slowly, and to thus be brought into operation after the other electro-mngncts have performed their functions. It sometimes chances. however, that some one or more of the actuating elcctro-magnets may not operate as quickly as the others, and the interrupting device may respond before some other device has performed its functions. It is very essential for the perfect operation of the telemetersystem that all the devices should operate before the final interruption of the circuit occurs. For this reason it is proposed by this invention to place the interrupting device under the control of currents caused to traverse a third circuit, the connections of which can only be completed when all the operating electromagnets have been vitalized. This third circuit has its connections completed at different points by the movements of the armature-1evers of the respective operating electro-inagnets, and when completed the interrupting electro-magnet is vitalized, and the circuit-connections of the battery are interrupted.

In an application of even date herewith there is shown, described, and claimed an organization of apparatus adapted to carry out the method of operation herein claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a diagram showing the general organization of apparatus which it is preferred to employ. Fig. 2 illustrates the invention as applied to electrical clocks.

Referring to Fig. 1, represents a circuitclosing arm, which may be operated by variations in temperature or pressure or by any other force, whether constant or variable. In this instance the arm is constructed to move in either of two directions. At its extremity it carries two contact-points. 0.0. An arbor, 0 located in the same axial line with the arbor c of the arm (3, carries a star-wheel, E, and two insulated contact-arms, G and C.

' Upon the extremity of the arm Of. there is carried a point, 0, and a similar point, 0*, is ctrried upon the arm 0'. These points are respectively applied to the points 0 of the arm 0. The contact-arms are insulated from each other, but are both carried rigidlyupon the wheel E. If, therefore, the circuit-closing arm 0 be moved in one direction, it will make contact with one of the arms, 0, and if moved in the opposite direction it will make contact with the other arm, (3*. A contactbrush, 6, connects the arm 0 with a conductor, 2, and a contact-brush, 6 connects the arm 0 with the conductor 5. A conductor, 1, connects the arm 0 with the earth at G.

It is designed that the arm 0, by moving in one direction or the other,shall cause electric impulses to be transmitted through a main line, L or L to the receiving-instrument or to a series of the same, and to cause them to move in a manner corresponding to the movements of the arm C. For this reason the conductor 2 is connected through a conductor, 3,

with the main line L, and the conductor 5 in" like manner with the main line L ,throughthe conductor 6.

The currents which are required for operating the receiving-instruments are of such strength that it is necessary to protect the delicate contactpoinls 0, c, and c" from the electric discharges which tend to take place at the interruption of the circuit. For this reason it is desired to establish a shunt-circuit around the points 0 and -c or c and 0', when a circuit is first completed by these. To accomplish this an electro-magnet, H, is included in the conductor 2, and an electromagnet, H in the conductor 5. The respective armature-levers h and h of these magnets are connected by a conductor, 4, with the conductor 1, and thus with the earth at G. Upon the levers h and it there are carried flexible springs h and h respectively, supporting contact points If and h. The point h is applied to a front contactpoint, it and the point If to a front contactpoint, If. These front contact-points are re spectively connected by conductors 7 and 8 with the conductors 2 and 5 at'points, 9 and It will be apparent that when the arm 0 strikes against the arm 0 or C an electric current is caused to traverse the conductor 2 or 5, and the corresponding electro-magnet H or H will be vitalized. The contact of the ous devices are derived from a battery, 0, which W is in this instance located near the receivinginstrument, but which cau-be located indifterently at either end. One pole of this battery isconnected with the earth at G by a conductor, .11. The remaining pole is connected by conductors 12 and 13 with two conductors, 14 and 15. The conductor l t'leads to the line L, and the conductor 15 to the line L. The functions of the currents which are thus trans mitted are to operate the wheel E, and thus move the arm 0 or C out of contact with the arm 0, and also to move an indicating-arm, P,

of the receiving-instrument. For this purpose two electro-magnets, F and F are respective] y included in the conductors 3 and 6, leading to the lines L and L" at the transmitting-station, and two electro-magnets, M and M, in the conductors 14 and 15, leading from the same lines at the receiving-station.

The electro-magnet F is provided with an armature, Fflcarried upon alever, F A pawl, k, is carried upon the lever F and this serves to impel the wheel E toward tlie'right hand, and thus to separate the arms 0 from the arm 0 when the electro-magnet F is vitalized. A similar pawl, k", carried upon the lever F of the armature F applied to the electro-magnet F serves to impel the wheel E in the opposite direction when the electro-magnet is vitalized. A suitable retaining-pawl, Eflserves to prevent an accidental displacement of the wheel E.

The electro-magnet M is provided with an armature, m, carried upon a lever, m", which carries a driving-pawl, n. Likewise an arma ture, W, a lever, mi and pawl 12 are applied to the electro-magnet M These two pawls n and n are applied to a wheel, N, which carries the pointer 1?. When the electro-magnet M is vitalized, the wheel and pointer are .moved in one direction, and when the electro-magnet M" is vitalized they are impelled in the opposite direction. In this manner the pointer P is caused to indicate the position of the arm 0. A suitable"retaining-pawl, N is applied to the wheel N, for the purpose of preventing it from being'accidently moved.

It is necessary that after the points a have been separated, and the pointer P has been moved, the circuit of the battery 0 should be interrupted. V

Heretofore it has been customary to interrupt the circuit by means of an electro-magnet included in series with the other magnets and responding more slowly. While this method is perfectly practicable, it requires careful ad justment, and usually a strong battery is required. According to the present invention it is proposed to place the interrupting-magnet in a third circuit, the connections of which are completed by the movements of the armaturelevers toward their electro-magnets, so that it is insured that thecircuit ofthe interruptingmagnet cannot be completed until all of the electro-magnets have been vitalized and the several armatures responded. The interrupting device is then immediately actuated and the main-circuit connections are interrupted. This is accomplished in the present instance by means ofcontact-pointsf andf, carried upon the levers F and F, respectively, and by similar points, in and m, respectively carried upon the levers m" and m of the magnets M. and M The contact-pointsj and f" are both connected with the conductor 1 leading to the earth at G. The contactpoint f has a front contact point, f, and the pointf has a similar front contact-point, f". These front contacts are connected with a third line, Z lead ing to the receiving-instrument. This lineleads to an electro-magnet Q. and from this magnet through a conductor, 16. It is connected with two front contact-stops, m and m, which are respectively applied to the points m and m. The contact-points in and m are connected through their respective levers and the conductors 14 and 15 with the conductor 13, and thus with the battery 0. Vhen, therefore, the armature-levers F and in, for instance, are in their forward positions, the circuit of the line L will be complete, and this will be the case, it is evident, only when both the transmitter and the receiver have been operated.

The manner in which the circuit is interrupted is as follows: The conductor 12 leads to a stationary arm, 5 carrying a yielding contact-spring, This spring carries a contactpoiut, g, the face of which is preferably in the form of an arc of a circle. The armature lever g of the electro-magnet Q is normally held away from its electro-magnet, but when it is drawn forward it strikes against an arm of the interrupting-lever A contact point, carried upon this lever, is normally against the pointy, pressing the spring out-- ward, and it is held in thisposition by gravity. \Vhen, however, the electro-magnet Q becomes vitalized, the arm or lever g is struck by the armature lever g, and the point g is thrown out of contact with the point 9 The momentum of the lever or arm prevents the point from returning immediately into contact with the point 9, even though the armature-lever 9" fall away from its magnet. The point 9 is connected with the conductor 13, and thus, by its separation from the point 9*, the connections between that conductor and the conductor 12 are severed. An adjusting-screw,

9 is applied to the spring 9', which serves to press the same outward a sufficient distance to permit the point 9 to fall behind it and to press it still farther forward. A rub hing contact is thus secured.

Upon the interruption of the connections of the battery ()at the point 9 all the electromagnets become demagnetized and the parts return to their normal positions, the arms C and the pointer P having been advanced or caused to recede accordingly as a current has been transmitted over the line L or L.

It will be observed that upon the completion of the circuit of the main line L the electro magnets F and M or F and M will be shunted,,but sufficient current will traverse the conductors L or If to cause these magnets to remain vitalized until the battery-circuit is interrupted at the point 9". Upon the interruption of the circuit all the discharge will occur at the point 9, and no discharge will occur at the contact-points curried upon their respective armature-levers.

The electro-magnet included in the conductor 12, is employed forgiving an indication in the event that the strength of the battery should become insufficient to supply a on r rent of the strength required to operate the devices. If, bysome chance, the circuitshonld remain completed through this magnet, the armature q would be drawn forward against the slowly-yielding plunger or dash-pot q. The daslrpot consists of an inclosiiigeup, Q3, containing a plunger, q through which is formed a small perforation, Some viscid oil or other similar substance may be contained in the cup above the plunger, which is also preferably cupshaped, as shown. The continued attraction exerted by the electro magnet causes the plunger to gradually rise, and thus allows the armature to approach the magnet. Upon an arm, q, of the armaturelever there is carried a detent, g, which normally engages a catch, (f, upon a sliding rod, This rod, together with a disk or visual signal, Q5, is normally held in the position shown in the drawings by thecatch; but when the armature-lever is drawn forward the rod is released, and the disk is permitted to fall through an aperture in the case, and thereby to indicate that the circuit has remained closed, and that for some reason the apparatus has failed to operate. Such failure being usually due to the weakness of the battery, it is preferable to locate this indicating device at the station where the battery is placed, in this instance at the receivingstation, or, if a series of receivinginstrmnents are employed, at any one of the stations. This method of controlling and operating circuits is not confined to the precise organization of apparatus shown at Fig. 1, but is applicable as well to an electric-clock system, such, for instance, as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 2, R represents a circuitclosing device applied to a moving partsay the second-hand arbor of a regulator. This device consists of an arm, 9'', which is carried forward by the movements of the second-hand arbor, and makes sliding contact once each I minute, or at any other predetermined interinto and out of contact with the contact-points.

In the drawings the point indicates the position of the circuit-closing arm at, say, the fifty-ninth second, and 00" at the sixtieth second, the contact being made while 0" is sweepline L.

ing over 1. The circuit of the battery 0, one pole of which is connected through the interruping device Q. with the point r will thus be completed with the arm 1" once each minute, or at the predetermined intervals. This arm is connected by the conductor 2 with the coils of the shunt-magnet H, and through the coils of the same with the main This main lineincludes in series any required number of electro-magnets M de signed to operate the several secondary clockmovements. The line L is connected with the earth at the distant station, as shown at G by the conductor 29.

The shunting-magnet H is employed for completing acircuit around the points r and 9 before that arm is carried beyond the point, and its operation will be evident without further description. The first operation of the circuit-closing arm is to vitalize the electro magnet H, and thus to complete the shuntcircuit with the main line, whereupon all. the

I armaturelevers m of the magnets M will be actuated. An artificial resistance,'R is inserted in the conductor leading to the point 1, for the purpose of preventing an undue amount of current from being transmitted through that point, all that is requisite being lever, m of the second clock.

lever on of the first clock.

that necessary to vitalize the shunting-magnet H.

The interruption of the circuit is secured by means of the electro-magnet Q, which is included in the circuit of the line L and the operation of which is precisely similar to that described with reference to Fig. 1. The main line L leads from this magnet to the armature- This lever is provided with a contact-stop, m from which a succeeding section of the main line leads to a The front contact-point of this lever is connected with the succeeding section of the main line, and so on throughout the series, the line being ultimately connected with the earth. It is evident, therefore, that the circuit-connections of the line L will be completed only when all the armature-levers have been drawn toward their electromagnets. The electro-magnets are shown in this instance as being so applied that the driving-pawls actuate the wheels N when the electro magnets are demagnetized; but the construction shown in Fig. 1 may be adopted. The construction here shown is, however, preferred, for the pawls are then always driven toward the wheels by the same force, and the driving force applied is independent of the battery strength, provided only that this be sufficient to draw the levers back.

At 0 there may be inserted a battery-indicating device similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

I claim as my invention 1. The hereinbefore described method of controlling the circuit-connections of a battery for the purpose of operating one instrument correlatively with the movements of another, which consists in completing them at one point, causing a shunt or second circuit to be thereby established around that point, completing the connections of a third circuit at various points through the instrument-ality of the current caused to traverse the circuit or circuits already completed, and automatically interrupting all the circuits of the battery through the instrumentality of the current caused to traverse the circuit last completed.

2. The hereinbefore described method of controlling the circuit-connections of a battery for the purpose of operating one instrument correlatively with the movements of another, which consists in completing the connections at one point, causing a'shunt or second circuit to be thereupon established around that point, thereupon interrupting the con nections at the first point, completing the connections of a third circuit at various points, and automatically interrupting the circuit at the second point through the instrumentality of the current caused to traverse the circuit last completed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23d day of March, A. D. 1885.

CHARLES L. CLARKE. lVitnesses:

DANL. WV. EDGEOOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY. 

